Tagliabue tells NFL to produce Cerullo, Williams for testimony

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; Tagliabue tells NFL to produce Cerullo, Williams for testimony | ProFootballTalk
When former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue convenes the appeal hearing in the bounty case, two key witnesses will be required to attend and testify.
According to the Associated Press, ...

According to the Associated Press, a document sent by Tagliabue to the parties directs the NFL to produce former Saints assistant Mike Cerullo and former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams for questioning.

Cerullo reportedly has indicated that he’ll attend (after all, he still wants to work in the NFL). Williams reportedly has declined. If, however, Williams wants to ever work in the NFL again, he’ll show up.

If he doesn’t, the NFL should be blocked from relying on Williams’ sworn statement, which curiously was signed in September after an internal appeal board threw out the first wave of bounty suspensions, forcing the NFL to start the process over, from scratch.

Four players initially were suspended, but those punishments were vacated and Tagliabue was appointed to oversee new hearings. Meanwhile, Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma and defensive end Will Smith are still playing.

Even as Tagliabue moves the process forward, a federal judge is still considering arguments by players that Tagliabue should be removed as arbitrator because he is biased in favor of the NFL. Based on the schedule laid out by Tagliabue, U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan could choose to rule as early as next week.

They are scheduled to appear in a series of hearings in Washington, D.C., running from Tuesday through Dec. 4. That means Vilma and Smith likely will be available at least for the Saints' next two games against San Francisco this Sunday and at Atlanta on Nov. 29. They could also play at the New York Giants on Dec. 9.

If Williams doesn't testify to back up his "sworn statement", I fully believe that Tagliabue is going to be a lot more fair in this whole thing than Goodell has ever been. He was never big on suspensions anyway unless it was a last resort. Even if Williams does testify, it doesn't mean that it is a slam dunk for the NFL to win.